1) CAMPAIGN AGAINST IMPUNITY - “COLOMBIA CALLS FOR JUSTICE”: AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL
OF OPINION FOR THE SOUTH OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BOLIVAR. (MAY 23, 2001) - IN SPANISH AS
WELL
2) PEOPLES GLOBAL ACTION NORTH AMERICAN MEETING - STOP PLAN COLOMBIA!!!
(JUNE 1-3, 2001)
3) The 23rd International Congress of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA 2001). (SEPTEMBER 6-8, 2001)
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CAMPAIGN AGAINST IMPUNITY - “COLOMBIA CALLS FOR JUSTICE”: AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL
OF OPINION FOR THE SOUTH OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BOLIVAR.
7:30 pm, Wednesday, May 23, 2001
Brussels, Belgium
Topic / Issue: Human Rights
Location: Maison de la Paix, rue Van Elewick, 1050 Bruxelles
Phone Contact: Tel / fax - 322/6485118
Sponsor: Comité pour la respect des Droits Humains “DANIEL GILLARD”
Description: Video and Discussion with -
GLADYS ROJAS, representative of the Permanent Table for Peace in the Middle Magdalena.
EDGAR PAEZ, representative of the Campaign Against Impunity - “Colombia Calls for Justice”
On July 11, 1998 the paramilitary leader Carlos Castano, announced a great offensive against the peasant population of the
Southern part of Bolivar. Since then, these paramilitary incursions have been supported on land, in the air, and in the
waterways by the 5th Brigade of the Colombian Army, causing more than 500 victims and thousands of displaced families in
the South of Bolivar.
Currently, the paramilitaries are maintaining a military blockade, which is cutting off the delivery of food and medicine vital to
the survival of the communities. The daily massacres have caused the massive displacement of peasant communities, which
have had to go into the mountains, because that is the only way to protect themselves, defend their land, and emphasize the
respect of their autonomy.
The Regional Permanent Table for Peace in the Middle Magdalena holds the Colombian State responsible for those crimes
which harm humanity. The peasant communities pushed for an International Tribunal of Opinion, in which they will demonstrate
that the massacres, the forced disappearances, and the demolition of the population has been done with the intention of
disarticulating and annihilating the community organizations, and allow for the implementation of multinational mega-projects in
the region.
Organizations which pushed for the International Tribunal for the South of Bolivar:
Coordinacion Europea de Comités “Oscar Romero,” Serpaj - Europa, Oxfam- Solidarité, Comité pour le respect des Droits
Humains “DANIEL GILLARD”
*****IN SPANISH*****
CAMPAÑA CONTRA LA IMPUNIDAD "COLOMBIA CLAMA JUSTICIA" : UN TRIBUNAL INTERNACIONAL
DE OPINION PARA EL SUR DE BOLIVAR
7:30 pm, Wednesday May 23, 2001 Debat
City & State: Bruselas, Bélgica
Topic / Issue Human Rights
Location: Maison de la Paix, 35, rue Van Elewick, 1050 Bruxelles
Phone Contact Tel/fax: 322 6485118
Sponsor: Comité pour le respect des Droits Humains "DANIEL GILLARD"
Description
Video y reunion con:
GLADYS ROJAS, representante de la Mesa Permanente por la Paz del Magdalena Medio
EDGAR PAEZ, representante de la Campaña contra la Impunidad "Colombia Clama Justicia"
El 11 de junio de 1998 el jefe paramilitar Carlos Castaño, anunció una gran ofensiva contra la población campesina del Sur de
Bolívar. Desde entonces, estas incursiones paramilitares estan apoyados vía terrestre, aérea y fluvial por Batallones de la V
Brigada del Ejército colombiano causando más de 500 víctimas y miles de familias desplazadas en el Sur de Bolivar.
Actualmente el para-militarismo mantiene un cerco militar bloqueando el ingreso de alimentos, medicamentos de vital
importancia para la supervivencia de las comunidades. Las masacres diarias han ocasionado el desplazamiento masivo de
comunidades campesinas que han debido internarse en las montañas como unica manera de protegerse, defender sus tierras y
exigir el respeto a su autonomia.
La Mesa Regional Permanente por la Paz del Magdalena Medio responsabiliza al Estado colombiano en la ocurrencia de estos
crímenes de lesa humanidad. Las comunidades campesinas, impulsarán un Tribunal Internacional de Opinión con el que
demostrarán que las masacres, la desaparición forzada, el arrasamiento de las poblaciones estan dirigidas a desarticular y
aniquilar las organizaciones comunitarias y permitir la implantacion de megaproyectos multinacionales en la region.
Organizan: Impulsores Tribunal Internacional Sur de Bolivar (Coordinacion Europea de Comités "Oscar Romero", Serpaj -
Europa, Oxfam-Solidarité, Comité pour le respect des Droits Humains "DANIEL GILLARD")
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PEOPLES GLOBAL ACTION NORTH AMERICAN MEETING - STOP PLAN COLOMBIA!!!
Amherst, MA June 1-3rd.
At the Amherst, MA meeting, a long-term strategy for developing a sustained global action to stop Plan Colombia and to stop
the criminalization of communities of color and poor and working class communities in the Latin and north america will be
discussed.
You can help organize for the Peoples' Global Action north american meeting! Your participation in the work groups at the
PGA north american meeting on developing strategies to stop Plan Colombia will be instrumental in determining what cities the
Fall organizing tour will visit. Locations for the fall tour will be determined and finalized at the PGA meeting in Amherst, MA
based on an evaluation of the plenary work group as to the ability of infrastructure and funding of all requesting locations.
So IF you live in cities where the May tour will be visiting in the next few weeks - please let us know! If you know of groups
that we should contact - please let us know. If you want to participate in decisions concerning the Fall PGA organizing tour -
the Tour to Build Resistance against Social, Cultural, and Political Genocide disguised as Plan Colombia as the " War on Drugs
in Latin America and north america", please register for PGA north american meeting now.
The list serve will act as a critical link in discussing planning of the current tour and discussion of the PGA north american
meeting in Amherst, MA.. To join the list serve- e-mail us at pga-request@riseup.net (please include only the word "subscribe"
without quotes in body of the letter).
See you in Amherst!
e-mail registration requests to napga@hotmail.com
Tampa Bay Action Group/ PGA Stop Plan Colombia work group
Temporary co-convenors " Peoples' Global Action - north america
WHAT THE TOUR WILL FOCUS ON
This organizing tour brings together speakers who represent some of the most pro-active grass roots organizations in Latin
America which have begun to create non-violent alternatives to capitalism with speakers representing Black, Latino, and
working class organizations who are fighting against the criminalization of poor communities and communities of color here in
the US. Discussion will focus on:
How the US government uses 'the war on drugs' to criminalize communities of color and working class communities in the US,
and how this is the same philosophy being used in attacking the Colombian people.
The military and economic aspects of Plan Colombia and the relationship to corporate and national interests. How the military
aspect of Plan Colombia is the other "arm" of "trade law" globalization.
How "Plan Colombia" is the same 'arm of repression' that is being used in communities of color, indigenous communities, and
working class communities in the US.
The relationship of corporate contractors now running "welfare to work programs" and private prison systems in over ten states
in the US and their role as major military contractors providing the weapon systems (under US government subsidies) for Plan
Colombia.
How Plan Colombia is being used to consolidate the privatization of water and land for the large multi-national corporations.
The use of genetically engineered defoliants in Colombia.
Come and help build this organizing tour! The goal in organizing these gatherings is to share information and to bring together
groups who may have not worked together in the past, and to a) to build an ongoing network of radical/progressive groups to
stop Plan Colombia and the criminalization of poor, working class, and communities of color in the US, b) build for the
Americas' day of action, and c) to build support for the north american pga meeting June 1 -3 in Amherst, MA
Help build for the joint Latin American and north american direct actions to "stop Plan Colombia and to stop the criminalization
of people in poor, working class, and communities of color in north and Latin america!"
In every city where there is opposition to Plan Colombia and the criminalization of communities of color and working class
communities, there will be direct actions exposing that the war on drugs is nothing but a war on peoples movements.
Groups from Colombia Participating:
PCN - Proceso de Comunidades Negras (PCN), ANUC - Asociacion Nacional de Usuarios Campesinos, OFP -
Organizacion Femmina Popular
PGA web page www.agp.org
IF YOU WANT TO HELP ORGANIZE THE TOUR CONTACT napga@hotmail.com
OR CALL 727-896-8224
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The 23rd International Congress of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA 2001)
The Marriot Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, D.C., September 6-8, 2001
These are some of the panels that will discuss the growing U.S. involvement in Colombia:
Democratization 05: Colombia: Democracy in Trouble (Saturday, 10:15-12:15)
Economics and Development 06: Colombia en Crisis: Alternativas de politica
economica y social (Saturday, 2:45-4:45)
International Relations 01: Colombian Foreign Relations in the 1990's
(Thursday, 5:00-7:00)
International Relations 07: El Plan Colombia y su Impacto Subregional
(Thursday, 10:15-12:15)
International Relations 23: The Drug War and Other Interventions: The U.S.
in Colombia (Friday, 8:00-10:00)
International Relations 24: The Drug War in Colombia: A Debate on U.S.
Foreign Policy (Friday, 10:15-12:15)
Meetings 36: Business Meeting of the Colombia Section (Thursday, 5-7:00)
Politics and Public Policy 32: Plan Colombia in National and Regional
Context: Toward the Renewal of Civil Society and a Peaceful Solution to
the War in Colombia (Friday, 2:45-4:45)
Presentations 02: El Papel del Intelectual y La Vida Publica en Colombia
(Thursday, 2:45-4:45)
Presentations 36: The Peace Process in Colombia (Friday, 12:30-2:30)
These are some other interesting panels:
Democratiaztion 07: Democracy, Human Rights, and Public Safety (Friday,
10:15-12:15)
Democratization 09: The Military and Democracy in Latin America (Thursday,
12:30-2:30)
Democratization 12: Democracy, Participation, and Civil Society (Saturday,
10:15-12:15)
Democratization 58: The Return of the Caudillos: Support for Authoritarian
Leaders in Latin America (Friday, 2:45-4:45)
History 35: The Voice of Otherness: African and Asians Diaporas in the
Caribbean, Spanish America, and Brazil (Friday, 8:00-10:00)
International Relations 13: Latin Amemrican Foreign Policy in the Midst of
Change (Th, 5-7)
Meetings 05: Defense, Democracy and Civil-Military Relations Business
Meeting (Sat, 8-10)
Meetings 21: Incorporating Latin American Studies into the High School
Curriculum (Friday, 10:15-12:15)
Meetings 28: Task Force on Human Rights and Academic Freedom (Friday,
10:15-12:15)
Politics and Public Policy 29: Conflict and Change in the Andes:
Ethnicity, Gender and the Struggle for Human Rights I (Friday, 8-10:00)
Politics and Public Policy 30: Conflict and Change in the Andes:
Neoliberalism, Reform and Challenge of Democratic Governance II
(Friday, 10:15-12:15)
Race and Ethnicity 03: Black Land Rights in Latin America (Friday, 2:45-
4:45)
Race and Ethnicity 06: Economic Development in Afro-Latin American
Communities: Opportunities and Challenges (Friday, 5:00-7:00)
Race and Ethnicity 07: Ethnicity, Citizenship and Violence (Saturday,
12:30-2:30)
Presentations 47: Culture and Human Rights in the Americas: De los
Derechos Humanos a los Derechos Civiles I (Saturday, 10:15-12:15)
Presentations 48: Culture and Human Rights in the Americas: De los
Derechos Humanos a los Derechos Civiles II (Saturday, 12:30-2:30)
Social Justice and Social Movements 02: Rethinking Violence: Issues of
Justice and Memory in Contemporary Local Pratices (Thursday, 12:30-2:30)
Social Justice and Social Movements 08: Social Movements and the Military
(Sat, 12:30-2:30)
(Notice: There will be hundreds of panels, Colombia is just a small part of the meetings)
For more information on the LASA 2001 meeting, go to:
http://lasa.international.pitt.edu/preliminaryschedule2001.htm
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